19 suspects held in Farah

FARAH CITY (PAN): A dozen Taliban fighters and seven others suspects were detained during an operation by Afghan security forces in western Farah province, officials said on Tuesday.

The operation was conducted in the Kansak area of Bala Balok district late on Monday after an intelligence report that a group of militants had gathered to attack a security checkpoint in the area, Col. Mohammad Ghaos Malyar, deputy police chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

A dozen armed insurgents, including two commanders, and seven other suspected people were arrested during the operation, he said, adding the detainees had confessed to their loyalty to the Taliban. Malyar said the security personnel and civilians stayed unhurt during the operation.

Deputy Governor Mohammad Younus Rassuli said residents of the district have been cooperating with the government against insurgents.

Elsewhere in the district, a massive depot containing weapons and explosives was discovered in the Shewan area, the deputy police chief said.

Forty-five kilograms of powder used in making explosives, four rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), eight hand-grenades, four remote-controlled mines, two walkie-talkies, and a large quantity of bullets were seized from the depot, Col. Mohammad Ghaos Malyar said. No arrest could be made in connection with the seizure, he concluded.